Deadly home invasion now a murder case

Two women who police say forced their way into an east-side apartment Friday have been charged with murder in the death of their accomplice — even though they didn’t kill her.

Corina Curry and Sadie Gurman

Two women who police say forced their way into an east-side apartment Friday have been charged with murder in the death of their accomplice — even though they didn’t kill her.

Charges of armed home invasion against Tina J. Jones, 17, of Rockford, and Desiree Weir, 20, of Belvidere, were upgraded Tuesday to first-degree murder. And a charge of aggravated battery against Thomas L. Simpson, who killed Gabrielle Aranda, 18, by striking her in the head with a baseball bat, was dismissed.

Police say the three women went to the Charles Street apartment to rob a 26-year-old woman they knew. When the 26-year-old answered the door, Jones hit her over the head with a hammer.

Police say a scuffle ensued involving all four women, during which the 26-year-old stabbed Jones. Simpson, who was in the apartment when the fight broke out, struck Aranda in the head with a metal baseball bat as she fled the apartment.

She collapsed in the yard outside the building and died early Saturday.

The resident and Jones were treated and released at a Rockford hospital.

“Under Illinois Law, if a person commits a forcible felony and a person dies during the commission of that crime, the living offenders are legally responsible for the death,” Winnebago County State’s Attorney Phil Nicolosi said in a written statement. “This is true even if the defendants did not perform the physical acts that killed the victim.”

Nicolosi declined to say why the charge against Simpson was dropped.

“Based on witness testimony and based on the facts that were presented to us, we felt these were the appropriate charges,” he said.

Aranda’s friends are searching for answers about the recent high school graduate’s death.

Former classmate Trisha Snyder said Monday the “Gabby” she knew had never been in trouble.

“We don’t really know what Gabby was doing there,” Snyder said. “We don’t want people to think she was that kind of person.”

Snyder and friends Skye O’Neill and Beth Harrison said Aranda was a good friend and a “tree-hugger” who never let them litter. The trio spent Monday afternoon making a bright green memorial poster for Aranda, which they planned to hang on a tree outside the apartment. Wrapped in plastic to protect it from rain and snow, the poster says Aranda “will never be forgotten.”

Aranda graduated from Jefferson High School in 2007 and hoped to go to art school in New York, Snyder said.

“She definitely did live life to the fullest,” O’Neill said.

Corina Curry can be reached at 815-987-1395 or ccurry@rrstar.com; Sadie Gurman can be reached at 815-987-1389 or sgurman@rrstar.com.

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